I am more into audio fidelity and quality of sound - clear, concise and rich. I don't need volume or power as my wife will simply kill me
Excellent Music listening is also something I'd like to have as well. Classical music is something we all enjoy.

I am more into audio fidelity and quality of sound - clear, concise and rich. I don't need volume or power as my wife will simply kill me
Excellent Music listening is also something I'd like to have as well. Classical music is something we all enjoy.

Your feedback is most welcome and appreciated.

Thank you,

Mark

This should do you well. I have a pair of the HB-1s and love them, excellent for music and movies. My father has this set up (minus 2 speakers) in a 40x20x20 room and rocks it with no problem. I have the same sub in 25x15x8 room. This is an excellent system, period, but definitely at this price. Read around for reviews.

I was originally going for a 10", conteplated an 8". Guess I'll have to tell my wife to get seriously good noise cancelling headphones and get the 10".

As for the surround speakers, I can get the CR-10s at the moment for $250 a piece. Should I get all 4 surround as CR-10s or should I mix and match CB-20 for the mid surrounds and put the CR-10s strictly for the rears?

First of all, you need a sub with a 12-inch woofer and at least 350 watts of power. It's not about volume. You can adjust the subwoofer volume control to suit you and the wee lady. It's about distortion. Smaller woofers do not have the cone size or power to reproduce frequencies below 50 Hz without excessive distortion. This is far more critical with music than movie-booms.

If you don't want to reproduce those frequencies you have no need for any subwoofer at all.

For the money you are going to spend, there are one hell of a lot of speakers that are much better than those Energy speakers (especially for your type of listening!).

I suggest Monitor Audio speakers:

The Bronze BX-5 tower speakers run about $750 per pair. The Bronze BX Center is $300 and will pair perfectly with them. The M1 speakers will be very good for the other four and cost $400 for the four speakers. $1450 total.

(NOTE- there is a company called M-audio that makes a BX-5; DIFFERENT COMPANY!)

To complete the system get the Rythmic FV-12 subwoofer for $500. This is a powerful clean-sounding subwoofer that will give plenty of bass in your room. The only way you would need two subs would be to simulate World War II in your room, and it doesn't sound like you want to go there. It is plenty for music.

This system will be miles ahead of the Energy speakers in sound quality IMO, and the Rythmic subwoofer is also very highly regarded for its price.

The Energy speakers are OK for people who just want to blast movies, but for those of us who care about the sound of music, particularly classical music, they are not what you want to listen to..

My budget is not more than $2K for complete speaker solution including a sub. I have been looking @ Energy brand and here's what I came up with.
Surround ( both mid and backs):
Energy Connoisseur Surround Bookshelf Speaker (CR-10)
Energy Connoisseur Bookshelf Speakers (CB-20)
Center
Energy Veritas LCR Speaker (VMINICR)
Front:
Energy Reference Connoisseur 4-Way Tower Speaker (RC-70) - Black – Single
Not sure on Sub 8" or 10".
I am more into audio fidelity and quality of sound - clear, concise and rich. I don't need volume or power as my wife will simply kill me
Excellent Music listening is also something I'd like to have as well. Classical music is something we all enjoy.

As long as the speakers you buy have standard binding posts - and these days, they pretty much all do - plugs will fit them.

-- Edit --
Just looking at a pic of the back of the CR-10s and, with those speakers, pins might be better just in case the "well" the posts are in isn't deep enough to ensure that the plugs+wires won't interfere with wall mounting. For bookshelf speakers, towers and the AVR, I'd go with plugs.

First of all, you need a sub with a 12-inch woofer and at least 350 watts of power. It's not about volume. You can adjust the subwoofer volume control to suit you and the wee lady. It's about distortion. Smaller woofers do not have the cone size or power to reproduce frequencies below 50 Hz without excessive distortion. This is far more critical with music than movie-booms.

If you don't want to reproduce those frequencies you have no need for any subwoofer at all.

For the money you are going to spend, there are one hell of a lot of speakers that are much better than those Energy speakers (especially for your type of listening!).

I suggest Monitor Audio speakers:

The Bronze BX-5 tower speakers run about $750 per pair. The Bronze BX Center is $300 and will pair perfectly with them. The M1 speakers will be very good for the other four and cost $400 for the four speakers. $1450 total.

(NOTE- there is a company called M-audio that makes a BX-5; DIFFERENT COMPANY!)

To complete the system get the Rythmic FV-12 subwoofer for $500. This is a powerful clean-sounding subwoofer that will give plenty of bass in your room. The only way you would need two subs would be to simulate World War II in your room, and it doesn't sound like you want to go there. It is plenty for music.

This system will be miles ahead of the Energy speakers in sound quality IMO, and the Rythmic subwoofer is also very highly regarded for its price.

The Energy speakers are OK for people who just want to blast movies, but for those of us who care about the sound of music, particularly classical music, they are not what you want to listen to..

Monitor speakers? you have piqued my interest. Now, the problem is that I'm in canada. I wonder if they have a local shop where i can listen and buy them. I'm in Toronto so if anyone knows a local reseller/distributor, I'd love to check them out. If I can get the prices you've quoted and I like the sound, it would be an easy decision.

I found the bookshelfs much cleaner sound with a greater range - sound was richer, especially the base. my only concern is the mounting.

Currently, I have the wiring set up for ceiling mount. Would you recommend a level shelf just below the ceiling or down firing mount?
I can always fish the wires to more of a wall mount - but I feel my wife wouldn't like it very much.

Also, a note on the GR Research speakers. He has a tour of the bookshelves (N2X sealed design) that could possibly be auditioned in house. Just contact him and see if it is possible, nice guy I still have yet to buy anything from.

I found the bookshelfs much cleaner sound with a greater range - sound was richer, especially the base. my only concern is the mounting.

Currently, I have the wiring set up for ceiling mount. Would you recommend a level shelf just below the ceiling or down firing mount?

IMO, if you're wall-mounting the CB-20s...
- up high, use adjustable speaker mounts and angle them down toward the listening position;
- a couple of feet above the listening position, a level shelf would be fine.

Else, you can stand-mount them on either side of the listening position.

Will your wife let y'all listen to grand pianos, or only smaller pianos? String bass, or only cellos? Tubas, or only french horns?

Classical music has all sorts of instruments that have lower frequencies that an 8" cone will typically have trouble reproducing at even medium volumes, without distortion.

Quote:

Originally Posted by markdweasel

I was originally going for a 10", conteplated an 8". Guess I'll have to tell my wife to get seriously good noise cancelling headphones and get the 10".

And the generalities about 8" vs 10" and 12" only go so far. There are other factors, like the excursion of the driver and its power handling, the size of the box, and the amount of power driving the woofer.

An 8" driver CAN reproduce low bass of those instruments (because even an ear bud can do that, at some volume), but to reach medium volumes on the dynamic peaks of classical music, the woofer would have to have so much excursion that the lowest sounds it puts out are distorted.

My 10" sub can produce down to 18Hz, but it's in a huge box.

A 12" has enough surface area it doesn't have to move in and out as much, and thus would probably exhibit less distortion, and it can use a smaller box.

Why don't you look at Paradigm, too, since you are in Canada? That's a Canadian company that makes great speakers. Maybe I'm wrong, but seems you ought to be able to get as good or better deals on them that we can get here in the US.

Why don't you look at Paradigm, too, since you are in Canada? That's a Canadian company that makes great speakers. Maybe I'm wrong, but seems you ought to be able to get as good or better deals on them that we can get here in the US.

What's the overall recommendation here?
Which set of Paradigms would be ideal for my requirements & budget?

Will your wife let y'all listen to grand pianos, or only smaller pianos? String bass, or only cellos? Tubas, or only french horns?

Classical music has all sorts of instruments that have lower frequencies that an 8" cone will typically have trouble reproducing at even medium volumes, without distortion.

And the generalities about 8" vs 10" and 12" only go so far. There are other factors, like the excursion of the driver and its power handling, the size of the box, and the amount of power driving the woofer.

An 8" driver CAN reproduce low bass of those instruments (because even an ear bud can do that, at some volume), but to reach medium volumes on the dynamic peaks of classical music, the woofer would have to have so much excursion that the lowest sounds it puts out are distorted.

My 10" sub can produce down to 18Hz, but it's in a huge box.

A 12" has enough surface area it doesn't have to move in and out as much, and thus would probably exhibit less distortion, and it can use a smaller box.

Agreed. When it comes to subs, woofer surface/cone area is king. Hell, even a crappy but big sub will sound half way decent.

Which is why I have dual, dual 15" drivers. When we move into our new house, these get doubled...

What's the overall recommendation here?
Which set of Paradigms would be ideal for my requirements & budget?

Obviously, best bang for the buck is my motto.

Thanks in advance.
Mark

I think that there are many Paradigm dealers in Canada (use their website to locate one). Just go in and see which ones you like, then come back and ask how they compare to other speakers you might consider

They sound interesting. Now, anywhere in Toronto area I can see them or possibly buy them?
I would hate to see how much they're going to ding me with taxes and duties if I elect to ship here.

Mark

you maybe sol because they are an on line company.it don't cost nothing to call and ask.
by the way i live in niagara falls n.y only an hour drive down q.e.w you could have them sent to my house and pick them up. lol

you maybe sol because they are an on line company.it don't cost nothing to call and ask.
by the way i live in niagara falls n.y only an hour drive down q.e.w you could have them sent to my house and pick them up. lol

Do you mean they're "on line" as in, "they have a website," or "they are internet direct"?